Universal puzzle piece with customizable surface

ABSTRACT

A universally shaped puzzle piece is provided that may mate with any side of a puzzle piece having the same universal shape. Instead of placing a portion of an overall puzzle image on the universally shaped puzzle piece, indicia related to a theme are placed on one side. The other side of the puzzle piece may be customizable to a user such that an infinite number of the universally shaped puzzle pieces may be customized and fit together to form a puzzle with a unique image. Thus, puzzle pieces may be distributed to individuals at a public event so that a puzzle is created that represents the overall theme of the event.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No.10/697,753, filed Oct. 29, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a customizable puzzle piece. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a puzzle piece that providesutility to a user even when the puzzle piece is packaged by itself anddoes not include a portion of an overall puzzle image.

Puzzle pieces are well known in the art. Traditional puzzle piecesprovide utility by way of a game. More particularly, a traditionalpuzzle is made up of puzzle pieces that each have, on one surface, oneportion of an overall puzzle image. In this manner, a user is challengedto put the pieces of the puzzle (i.e., the individual portions of theoverall puzzle image) together in order to form the overall puzzleimage. To increase the complexity of the challenge, the pieces of apuzzle may be made to have smaller sizes and/or less recognizabledifferences in shape. However, such traditional puzzle pieces aredeficient because they do not provide a stand-alone utility to a user.In other words, a traditional puzzle piece only provides functionalityby way of an overall puzzle constructing game. It is therefore desirableto provide a puzzle piece with a stand-alone utility.

Traditional puzzles have been around for hundreds of years. Yet, themedia in which puzzles have been embodied have generally remained thesame. More particularly, traditional puzzle pieces are commonly embodiedin a type of cardboard or wood. It is therefore desirable to providepuzzle pieces that are realized in a variety of different media in orderto increase the utility provided to a user.

Traditional puzzle pieces are also inherently small (e.g., 1square-inch). As noted above, puzzle pieces are fabricated in smallsizes in order to increase the difficulty in completing the overallpuzzle game. Once the size of a traditional puzzle piece increasesbeyond a particular size (e.g., to the size of a traditional puzzle),the traditional puzzle piece loses utility with respect to a singleuser. It is therefore desirable to provide a puzzle piece configurationthat is larger than a traditional puzzle, but that still maintains auseful function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a puzzle piece thatdoes not include a portion of an overall puzzle image, but that stillprovides utility to a user. More particularly, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide a puzzle piece with at least one surfacethat may be customized by a user.

The puzzle piece may also include indicia that are representative of atheme or themes. In this manner, the puzzle piece may be packaged anddistributed individually to a user so that the user may, for example,draw an image related to the theme on the customizable surface. Ifmultiple puzzle pieces are customized, then these puzzle pieces may befit together to form a unique overall puzzle image that isrepresentative of the theme.

Puzzle pieces are also therefore provided that have a universal shape. Apuzzle piece with a universal shape may mate with an identically shapedpuzzle piece on each side. Thus, an infinite number of identicallyshaped universal puzzle pieces may be interlocked to form an infinitelylarge puzzle.

The puzzle pieces of the present invention may be useful at an eventhaving a theme. For example, universal and customizable puzzle pieces ofthe present invention may be distributed to participants of a rally orother public event. One surface of the puzzle piece may be operable tobe customized by a user while the reverse side may include indiciarepresentative of the theme of the rally or other public event. In orderto allow a user to customize thoroughly the puzzle piece, the size ofthe puzzle piece may have a large dimension (e.g., one square-foot).Accordingly, each participant of the rally or other public event mayconfigure a puzzle piece and, at some point, put his or her puzzle piecetogether with others to form a unique puzzle representative of thetheme. Due to the universal shape of the puzzle pieces, the puzzle wouldnot have any defined borders and would, at any side, be operable toaccept additional universal puzzle pieces having the same universalshape. Therefore, at any time, a new user may customize a puzzle pieceand easily attach the customized puzzle piece to the already existingpuzzle.

Puzzle pieces are also provided in a virtual medium. Such virtual puzzlepieces may be accessible and customizable through the internet. Agraphical user interface (GUI) may be provided to allow a user tocustomize a virtual puzzle piece. Such virtual puzzle pieces may alsohave a universal shape. In so doing, the user may place a customizedvirtual puzzle piece in an existing virtual puzzle regardless of thenumber of virtual puzzle pieces already included in the puzzle. Anoption that allows a user to upload a puzzle piece image and “paste”that uploaded image onto a virtual puzzle piece is also provided.

An electronic puzzle piece is also provided that allows a user to playback a previously recorded audio segment. An option may be included thatallows a user to record an audio segment.

The puzzle pieces of the present invention are also provided in avariety of embodiments and media. Such embodiments include, by way ofexample, stickers, punch-out cards, trading cards, and pads.Additionally, the customizable area of a puzzle piece may be configuredto accept a variety of types of user customizations. For example, thecustomizable area may be fabricated out of canvas so that a user maypaint an image onto the puzzle piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present invention, its nature andvarious advantages will be more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to likeparts throughout, and in which:

FIGS. 1A-1C are illustrations of universal puzzle pieces constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a universal puzzle piece with indiciarepresentative of a theme constructed in accordance with the principlesof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a universal puzzle piece with acustomizable area constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a pad including multiple universal puzzlepieces constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a GUI including a virtual universal puzzlepiece and customization tools constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a GUI including a puzzle piece submissionfeature constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 7A is an illustration of a trading card puzzle piece with acustomizable area for inclusion of, for example, an autographconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGS. 7B is an illustration of a trading card puzzle piece constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a sticker puzzle piece having a universalshape constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a punch-out universal puzzle piececonstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of an electronic universal puzzle piececonstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 11A is a network topology for implementing the GUIs of FIGS. 5 and6 constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 11B is a network topology for implementing the electronic puzzlepiece of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A shows universal puzzle piece 100 that includes puzzle piece 101with a symmetrical shape and an even number of male and femaleconnectors. Due to the universal shape of puzzle piece 101, an infinitenumber of puzzle pieces 101 may lock together to form a puzzle. Thispuzzle would have borders that are operable to receive (i.e., interlockwith) additional universal puzzle pieces 101. Puzzle 110 is oneembodiment of such a puzzle and is constructed from universal puzzlepieces 111-113. The symmetrical nature of puzzle piece 101, however,leads to the rotation of particular puzzle pieces (e.g., the layout ofpuzzle piece 112 is rotated 900 when compared to the layout of puzzlepieces 111 and 113) when constructing puzzle 110.

FIG. 1B shows universal puzzle piece 130 that includes puzzle piece 131with a non-symmetrical universal shape such that a duplicate of puzzlepiece 131 may mate with any side of the original puzzle piece 131. As aresult of the non-symmetrical shape, puzzle piece 131 does not have tobe rotated in order to mate with any side of an identically shapedpuzzle piece. Puzzle 140 includes non-symmetrical universal puzzlepieces 141-144 that are not rotated with respect to one another. As aresult of the similar orientation of puzzle pieces 141-144, a user maycustomize a puzzle piece with respect to the same axis and not worryabout having this axis rotated during the construction of puzzle 140.

FIG. 1C shows universal puzzle piece 160 that includes puzzle piece 161with both female connector 162 and male connector 163 on each side. Byincluding two connectors on each side, the strength of the interlockingbond (connection strength) between puzzle piece 161 and a similarlyshaped puzzle piece is increased with respect to a puzzle piece having asingle connector of comparable size on each side. Thus, the size ofconnectors 163 and 162 may be decreased and still provide a neededamount of connection strength. In decreasing the size of male connectors163 and female connectors 162, the size of the customizable area (notshown) on puzzle piece 161 increases. In this manner, the size of thecustomizable area (not shown) may be increased as additional connectorsare included on puzzle piece 161.

Puzzle piece 161 is non-symmetrical and may be included in a puzzle ofsimilarly shaped puzzle pieces. Puzzle piece 170 includes puzzle pieces171-174 and 176-179 that have the same universal shape as puzzle piece161. Due to the universal nature of puzzle pieces 171-174 and 176-179,additional puzzle pieces 161 may be added to puzzle 170.

Turning now to FIG. 2, themed puzzle piece 200 is shown that includessurface 201 with indicia 202-204 that relate to the same theme.Center-oriented indicium 202 may be excluded from puzzle piece 200 suchthat the center of puzzle piece 201 may be customized by a user. Indicia203 and 204 are included on the male connectors of puzzle piece 201 toincrease the size of such a customizable area while providingrepresentations of the theme.

One embodiment of a possible reverse (i.e., rear) surface of puzzlepiece 201 is shown in puzzle piece 300 of FIG. 3. As will be discussedlater in connection with the discussion of FIG. 4, surface 301 may beentirely customizable to a user or may include only portion 302 that iscustomizable to a user. Preferably, surface 301 does not contain anytype of indicia. However, persons skilled in the art will appreciatethat indicia may be provided on surface 301 as, for example, a pictureor descriptive text or placed on surface 301 as customizations made bythe user. As per another example, an outline (not shown) of a picturethat may be colored by a user may be placed on surface 301. Depending onthe area operable to receive user customizations, a user may addcustomizations (e.g., user-created indicia 303 and 304) to surface 301.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that, depending upon thematerial used for surfaces 301 and 302, a variety of customizations maybe made to puzzle piece 300. Descriptive text may be included on aparticular side of a puzzle piece to denote the type of customizationfor which the material is intended. For example, if a canvas is used,then descriptive text may be included that notes that acrylic paints arethe intended customization tool for the canvas. This descriptive text ispreferably included on the non-customizable side or area of puzzle piece301.

However, as mentioned above, a puzzle piece constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention may be operable to allow auser to customize all surfaces. Materials employed as surface 301 (or aspuzzle 300) may be, for example, cardboard, metal (e.g., bronze), stone,wood, aluminum, plastics (e.g., recycled plastics), plexiglass,acrylics, glass, whiteboard, canvas, felt or a fabric. For example, awatercolor paper may be utilized in order to best receive watercolors.As per another example, Braille paper may be used such that a blind usermay create Braille holes in puzzle piece 301. Alternatively still, aBraille painting paper may be used such that a blind user may employBraille paint to form paint blots having the configuration of a Brailleletter.

Each puzzle piece 300 may be packaged individually. Such packaging mayalso include a card or pamphlet associated with a theme or the operationof puzzle piece 300. The package may include one or more customizationinstruments (e.g., a pen, box of crayons, markers, paint brush and paintor Braille hole-maker). In this manner, multiple puzzle pieces may bedistributed to different users (e.g., a second grade class) such thateach user may customize a puzzle piece that may ultimately be utilizedin a puzzle.

FIG. 4 shows the construction of pad 400 that includes multiple puzzlepieces having the same universal shape. More particularly, pad 400includes puzzle piece 401 and any additional number of puzzle pieces402. Puzzle pieces 402 may be attached to puzzle piece 401 via bindings403 and 404 (e.g., glue or staples). To create pad 400, puzzle pieces402 may be fixed onto puzzle piece 401 in accordance with directionalarrows 406. Next, bindings 404 and 405 may be placed onto the group ofpuzzle pieces 401 and 402 to form a pad in accordance with directionarrows 405. Due to the nature of the shape of the universal puzzle pieceshape depicted by pad 400, two bindings, bindings 403 and 404, areemployed. However, a single binding may be used here (e.g., just binding403) or in the case of a differently shaped universal puzzle piece.

Puzzle piece 401 may be constructed differently from puzzle pieces 402.For example, puzzle piece 401 may have construction 430 in order toincrease the stiffness of, and thereby provide support to, pad 400.Construction 430 may include inner cardboard layers 433 and 434, outernon-customizable layer 432 and customizable layer 431. Outernon-customizable layer 432 may be, for example, similar to surface 201of FIG. 2, which, in turn, may include indicia. A non-customizablesurface is a surface that is not operable to receive the mark of acustomization tool. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that anysurface may be marked. For example, a slab of steel may be marked with ahammer and chisel. Therefore, a customizable surface may be a surfacethat is operable to receive the mark of a customization tool withoutmuch effort. In some embodiments, the customization surface ispreferably constructed with a particular customization tool or group ofcustomization tools in mind. An outline of a picture is a customizablelayer because, although portions are non-customizable (i.e., the linesthat form the outline), substantial customizable portions still exist(i.e., the area inside of the lines). Similarly, a paper with awatermark is a customizable paper. Such a customizable portion ispreferably a raw substrate (e.g., raw print paper) that has not yet beencustomized (e.g., does not already have an image printed on it). Thus,layer 432 may be a layer of cardboard with a picture printed on it(e.g., a background with a company logo on it), while layer 431 may be alayer of raw cardboard.

A shorted layer 436 may be fixed (e.g., glued) to a non-customizablelayer to create a customizable portion on construction 430.Alternatively, non-customizable layer 435 may be fixed to customizablelayer 431 such that only a portion of customizable layer 431 is providedto a user. One embodiment in which layers 435 and 436 may be utilizedwill be discussed further in connection with the trading cards of FIGS.7A and 7B.

Puzzle piece 401 is preferably constructed with multiple layers. Puzzlepieces 402, however, may each be constructed with a single layer. In oneembodiment, puzzle pieces 402 may be fabricated from drawing paper inorder to decrease the thickness of pad 400 and increase the number ofpuzzle pieces 402 that may be employed in pad 400. Such pages mayinclude one or more surfaces with a watermark or other indicia relatedto a theme. One surface of puzzle piece 401 (e.g., the exterior surface)may also include indicia related to that same theme.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that pad 400 may provide auseful way to distribute puzzle pieces at an event or a promotion. Forexample, the organizers of an event may construct pad 400 to includeindicia representative of a theme of the event. During the event,organizers may remove puzzle pieces 402 from pad 400 one-by-one anddistribute puzzle pieces 402 to the participants of the event. Suchparticipants may then customize the customizable surface of his or herpuzzle piece 402. Customized puzzle pieces 402 may ultimately beinterlocked to form a universal puzzle, which will have a unique lookdue to the wide-variety of individual puzzle piece customizations.

Pad 400 may be manufactured and distributed as kit 420. Kit 420 maycontain packaging 421, preferably constructed from a transparent polymerso that its contents may be easily viewed, and puzzle pad 422. Puzzlepad 422 may alternatively be a single puzzle piece. A card or pamphletmay also be included in kit 420. Moreover, one or more customizationinstruments (e.g., crayon boxes) may be included in kit 420. The numberof customization instruments in kit 420 may be equal to the number ofpuzzle pieces 402 or the total number of puzzle pieces 401 and 402.

FIG. 5 shows GUI 500 that is preferably embodied in a web-browserconnected to the internet. A web-server (not shown) may provide thetools and information utilized in GUI 500 as well as perform some or allof the operations requested by a user of GUI 500. This web-server (notshown) may also retrieve information from and store information into aremote database or another type of storage device. Generally, GUI 500allows for a customizable (e.g., blank) universal puzzle piece to beaccessible and customizable through the internet. If implemented as aweb-browser, GUI 500 may include internet access and navigation tools501 and 502. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that GUI 500 maybe employed in an environment that is not connected to the internet orworld wide web. For example, an intranet may be set up that includesmultiple computers (not shown) that each have GUI 500 and may access aremote database (not shown) in order to deposit and retrieve puzzleinformation and tools. Alternatively, a single computer may havesoftware that allows a user to customize one or more virtual puzzlepieces, save the customized puzzle pieces (and any resultant puzzle) tothe computer's hard-drive and print any customizable puzzle pieces (orpuzzles) on a printer.

A user of GUI 500 may be recognized by any associated login/password sothat at least a portion (e.g., portion 504) may be customized to a userafter login. Puzzle piece 511 is provided to a user. Tools 530 and colorpalette 520 may be included so that a user may customize puzzle piece511 through GUI 500 and form customized indicia 550. The color palletmay include multiple colors 521-524 that, when selected by a user,change the color of the instrument being used to customize puzzle piece511. Tools 530 may be selectable by the user and may include, forexample, cut, paste, copy, large brush, small brush, erase, spray paint,insert picture and zoom functionalities to a user.

Each virtual puzzle piece may be assigned a number or code and thenumber or code may be presented to a user via portion 505. This numberor code may be utilized as the title for puzzle piece 511 and may bechanged by the user to a descriptive title. The user may storeadditional information with puzzle piece 511. For example, a user maystore his or her name, city, state and comments on the overall themethat may be intended for puzzle piece 511. This information may be addedthrough a GUI (not shown) that is accessed by clicking on portion 505.Link 506 may be included so that, when selected by a user, it activatesa GUI that includes a birds-eye view of the virtual puzzle alreadycompleted or, if too large, a portion of the already completed virtualpuzzle. Link 507 may be included and may allow a user to save and/or beprovided a final review of puzzle piece 511. Link 508 may be includedand, when selected, will save the puzzle piece 511 (or the image createdon puzzle piece 511) to a remote database (not shown).

After the image is saved, link 508 may “call” a GUI in which a user mayadd puzzle piece 511 to the already existing puzzle, or link 508 mayautomatically add puzzle piece 511 to the puzzle and provide the userwith a view of the puzzle or a portion of the puzzle that containspuzzle piece 511. Users may also be provided with the option ofuploading one or more pictures that may be formatted and applied to thevirtual surface of puzzle piece 511. Furthermore, users may be providedwith the option to print any customized puzzle piece or the completedpuzzle on a designated printer.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that puzzle piece 511 doesnot have to have a universal shape. Additionally, puzzle piece 511 maynot be customizable and may contain a portion of an overall puzzle pieceimage so that GUI 500 and GUI 600 of FIG. 6 provide a virtual gamesimilar to the physical game provided by a traditional puzzle.

FIG. 6 shows GUI 600 in which a user may place customized puzzle piece607 puzzle 625. Puzzle markers 650 may be included in puzzle 625 to showa user positions into which customized puzzle piece 607 may be placed.Link 603 may be included to allow a user to go back to a GUI (e.g., GUI500 of FIG. 5) and edit customized puzzle piece 607. Links 604 and 605may be included in order to change the perspective in which puzzle 650is presented to a user. For example links 604 and 605 may zoom in, zoomout, scroll left, scroll right, scroll up or scroll down the portion ofpuzzle 650 presented to a user.

A virtual puzzle may lead to a useful product promotion 602. Forexample, a user may receive a personal identification number (PIN) orcode for each bar of candy that he or she buys. This PIN is associatedwith a puzzle piece. For example, after a PIN is entered, a transparentcall may be made to a remote database to retrieve the puzzle piece, orcharacteristics of the puzzle piece, associated to that PIN.Accordingly, the puzzle piece's identification may be that of a PIN or asweepstakes identification code. As per one embodiment of a productpromotion, specific PIN may be associated with puzzle pieces havingspecific prizes, so that if PIN “2” is entered and puzzle piece “2”corresponds with a prize of a “BMW Roadster,” then a puzzle piece may bepresented to a user that depicts a “BMW Roadster.” In such an instance,descriptive text may be presented to the user that explains to him orher the prize that was just won and may provide instructions on how toredeem or claim that prize. If no prize is won, a blank puzzle piece maybe presented to a user. If the user customizes and submits this puzzlepiece, the user may then be entered into a random drawing for arunner-up prize.

A puzzle piece may provide a unique medium in which trading cards may besold, distributed or bundled together in trading card packs. FIG. 7Ashows front surface 701 of a puzzle piece that includes picture 702 thatmay represent, for example, a sports personality. Portion 703 may becustomizable and may receive or include a customized mark (e.g., anautograph). FIG. 7B shows rear surface 751 of a puzzle piece thatincludes indicia segment 752. Multiple puzzle pieces may then be puttogether to form puzzle 753. Although the puzzle pieces of FIGS. 7A and7B need not have universal shapes, the puzzle pieces may be packaged intrading card packs associated with a specific sport. Thus, byfabricating the puzzle pieces of FIGS. 7A and 7B to have a universalshape, universal puzzle pieces having indicia of different sports may beinterlocked with each other to form a unique multi-sport puzzle.Similarly, sets of universal puzzle piece trading cards may be expandedinfinitely by the issuer.

FIG. 8 shows sticker 800 that is in the shape of a universal puzzlepiece. Sticker 801 may include two layers 803 and 802 where layer 802may be peeled off of layer 803. Layer 802 may include front surface 801which may be customizable to a user. Layer 803 may include indiciaeither on its reverse or on the side covered by layer 802, such thatthese indicia appear when layer 802 is removed. Layer 802 and 803 may beaffixed together through means of a temporary adhesive or by a staticbond. The adhesive is preferably chosen such that layer 802 may besecurely re-fixed to a substrate. Layer 802 may, in turn, be constructedfrom multiple layers.

FIG. 9 illustrates punch-out puzzle piece 900 that includes supportportion 901 and punch-out portion 902. Punch-out portion 902 preferablyhas a universal shape and may be customized (e.g., blank on one side) orboth sides. Indicia, such as descriptive text, may be present on supportportion 901. Punch-out puzzle piece 900 provides a simple structure toindividually package and house punch-out portion 902 via support portion901. Punch-out puzzle piece 900 may be any size (e.g., the size of abusiness card).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that punch-out puzzle piece900 may also be used to sell a traditional puzzle in a puzzle pad wherethe puzzle pieces are of varying shapes. Doing so would remove the needfor traditional puzzle boxes that take up valuable shelf space instores. Thus, different non-universal puzzle pieces may be packaged inone pad (e.g., in package 420 of FIG. 4 as pad 420) and may be operableto form, for example, a non-universal puzzle. In this manner, a puzzlein a pad is provided.

Turning now to FIG. 10, electronic puzzle piece 1000 is shown havinguniversal shape 1001. Puzzle piece 1000 may include one or morecustomizable surfaces. Moreover, puzzle piece 1000 may containelectronic circuitry 1002 that may retrieve stored information. Forexample, audio data may be stored in electronic circuitry 1002. Thisaudio data may be retrievable by a user through controls 1003 (e.g., oneor more buttons) and outputted to that user by speaker 1004. If videodata is stored in electronic circuitry 1002, then display 1005 may alsobe included. Furthermore, puzzle piece 1001 may include an audiorecorder so that a user may store, save and retrieve an audio segment.In this manner, a user may store a short speech about a particular themeon electronic circuitry 1002. In turn, this stored speech may bereplayed to any user via controls 1003.

FIG. 11A shows network topology 1100 for use by GUI 500 of FIG. 5 andGUI 600 of FIG. 6. Network topology 1100 includes personal computer 1010on which a GUI is displayed to a user. Web-server 1020 may be includedto publish information from remote database 1030 to a website accessibleby personal computer 1010. Web-server 1020 may also store data providedby personal computer 1010 to remote database 1030.

FIG. 11B shows electronic circuitry topology 1150 that may be utilizedas a topology for control circuitry 1002 of FIG. 10. Topology 1150includes input device 1051 that may be, for example, a button, speakeror image capture device. Output device 1053 may be included and may be,for example, one or more speakers and/or displays. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that a single speaker may be utilized as both aninput and output device. Media processing circuitry may be included inorder to configure data so that it is playable by output device 1053.Memory 1054 may be included to store information such as, for example,audio segments, video segments and still images. Control circuitry 1052may be, for example, a microprocessor an analog circuit that controlsthe data-flow between the electrical components of topology 1150.

From the foregoing description, persons skilled in the art willrecognize that this invention generally relates to universal andcustomizable puzzle pieces. It should be recognized that the inventionmay take many forms other than those disclosed in this specification.For example, electronic puzzle piece 1000 of FIG. 10 may be employed aspuzzle piece 401 of pad 400. Accordingly, it is emphasized that theinvention is not limited to the disclosed assemblies and methods, but isintended to include variations to and modifications therefrom which arewithin the spirit of the following claims.

1. A system for creating a virtual puzzle piece comprising:customization tools to customize the virtual puzzle piece; and awebserver configured to publish the virtual puzzle piece to a webpage.2. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual puzzle piece has auniversal shape.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual puzzlepiece has a unique identification number.
 4. The system of claim 1,further comprising a plurality of user profiles, wherein the virtualpuzzle piece is associated with a particular user profile of theplurality of user profiles.
 5. The system of claim 4, further comprisinga login feature for accessing the particular user profile.
 6. The systemof claim 1, wherein the customization tools comprises one or more of acolor palette, cut function, paste function, copy function, brush sizefunction, erase function, paint function, or zoom function.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising: a virtual puzzle; and placementtools to place the virtual puzzle piece in a particular location of thevirtual puzzle.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the customization toolcomprises an import tool that allows an image to be imported from astorage device onto the virtual puzzle piece.
 9. The system of claim 1,further comprising a remote database configured to store the virtualpuzzle piece.
 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a virtualpuzzle, and wherein the remote database is further configured to store aparticular location of the virtual puzzle piece in the virtual puzzle.11. The system of claim 10, wherein the webserver is further configuredto publish the virtual puzzle to the webpage.
 12. A machine-readablemedium encoded with machine-readable instructions for: providing avirtual puzzle piece; and providing tools to customize the virtualpuzzle piece.
 13. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, furthercomprising machine-readable instructions for publishing the virtualpuzzle piece on the Internet.
 14. The machine-readable medium of claim12, wherein the virtual puzzle piece has a universal shape.
 15. Themachine-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising machine-readableinstructions for instructing a printer to print the virtual puzzlepiece.
 16. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, further comprisingmachine-readable instructions for placing the virtual puzzle piece inparticular location of a virtual puzzle, wherein the virtual puzzlecomprises a plurality of virtual puzzle pieces.
 17. The machine-readablemedium of claim 16, further comprising machine-readable instructions forinstructing a printer to print the virtual puzzle.
 18. Themachine-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising machine-readableinstructions for creating a plurality of user profiles, wherein thevirtual puzzle piece is associated with a particular user profile of theplurality of user profiles.
 19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18,further comprising machine-readable instructions for creating a loginfeature for accessing the particular user profile.
 20. Themachine-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising machine-readableinstructions for: storing a first password; prompting a user to enter apassword; and providing the tools to customize the virtual puzzle pieceif the user-entered password matches the first password.